Thirteen Atlantic Margin licences are to be awarded by the Irish Government to a total of 12 companies – including seven new to the region.
Announcing the results of the licensing round, Pat Rabbitte, minister for natural resources, said both the number of applications and the number of proposed awards are the highest of any Frontier Round, the first of which was in 1994.
He said 15 applications were received, with some companies submitting more than one application.
The total area covered by the applications was just over 5,700 square miles, with water depths ranging from less than 656 feet to more than 8,200 feet.
A total of twelve companies were involved in the applications.
The seven new companies that will be offered acreage were: Antrim Energy; Bluestack Energy; Europa Oil & Gas; First Oil Expro; Petrel Resources; Repsol Exploration; and Two Seas Oil & Gas.
The five companies already active in Ireland were: Providence Resources; Chrysaor; Serica Energy; Sosina Exploration and San Leon Energy.
There were four applications that were directly competing for two specific areas and could only result in two Licensing Options being offered.
The awards will comprise one Licensing Option in the Rockall Basin, two in the Slyne Basin, nine in the Porcupine Basin and one in the Goban Spur Basin.
The full list of licences offered:
Serica Energy UK, 100% in the Rockall Basin licences 11/5, 11/10, 11/15, 12/1, 12/6, 12/11(p)
Providence Resources, 32%, Chrysaor E&P Ireland, 58%, Sosina Exploration, 10% in the Porcupine Basin licences 35/13, 35/14, 35/15, 35/18, 35/19, 35/20
Bluestack Energy, 100% in the Porcupine Basin licences 35/25(ep), 35/30, 36/21, 36/26, 44/5(p), 45/1
Petrel Resources, 100% in Porcupine Basin licences 35/23, 35/24, 35/25(wp)
Antrim Energy, 100% in Porcupine Basin licences 44/4, 44/5(p), 44/9, 44/10, 44/14, 44/15
Petrel Resources, 100% in Porcupine Basin licences 45/6, 45/11, 45/16
Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings), 100% in Porcupine Basin licences 43/9, 43/10, 43/14 and 43/15
Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings), 100% in Porcupine Basin licences 54/1, 54/2, 54/6 and 54/7
Providence Resources, 80% and Sosina Exploration 20% in Porcupine Basin licences 52/5, 52/10, 52/15, 53/1, 53/6, 53/11
Two Seas Oil & Gas, 100% in Porcupine Basin licences 34/19, 34/20, 34/24, 34/25, 35/16, 35/21
Providence Resources, 40%, Repsol Exploration Irlanda, 40% and Sosina Exploration 20% in Goban Spur licences 61/13(p), 61/14, 61/15, 61/18(p), 61/19(p), 61/20, 62/11(p), 62/16(p)
Providence Resources, 66.66% and First Oil Expro, 33.33% in Slyne Basin licences 18/25(p), 18/30
San Leon Energy, 100% in Slyne Basin licences 27/13, 27/14, 27/19, 27/24